Deck laying tool



June 13, 1939. 4 KUSHMA 2,161,784

DECK LAYING TOOL Filed Sept. 7, 1938 15 (7 James KuS/IL'McL Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to deck laying tools and more particularly to a backing block to facilitate the wedging together of the individual decking strips, preparatory to fastening them to a steel 5 deck or angle iron supports.

In the laying of wood decks it has been the practice to employ a tapered steel pin or deck bolt inserted in the bolt hole of the deck supports as a backing for the wedge. These methods are obj ee- 10 tional for the reasons that the pins or bolts being of small diameter do not provide sufficient bearing surface for the wedge, further they tend to deform the bolt hole into which they are driven and if the deck plate is thin and the pin is driven in tightly they are difficult to remove.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which will overcome the objections of the present practice being provided with a broad bearing surface for the wedge and secured 20 to the deck plate or angle iron support so as to be rigid and not deform the bolt hole to which it is attached.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a device of the above-mentioned char- 25 acter which is simple and durable in construction, 7

reliable and efiicient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the follow- 30 ing description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

5 Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the tool in use,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, partly in vertical section, and,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of an angle iron support showing the attaching bolt 40 inserted in one of the bolt holes.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 denotes a steel casting of right angular shape to provide a broad horizontal base 6 and relatively wide vertical face 1. A vertical post 8 is cast integral with the rear of the face 1 and extending between the post and base 6 are reinforcing webs 9. The post 8 has a longitudinal bore Ill which extends through the base 6 and the upper end ll of the bore is relatively larger in diameter than the lower end. An attaching bolt I2 is slidably fitted in the bore l having an enlarged upper end l3 provided with 55 screw threads M which have threaded engagement with the head I5 formed integral with one end of a handle It by means of which the bolt I2 is adjusted. A nut ll threaded on the upper end of the bolt above the head l5 serves to lock the bolt in its adjusted position. The lower end of the 5 bolt 12 is bent to form an angular projection l8 adapted to engage in one of the bolt holes IS in the angle iron support 20 or steel deck to secure the block for backing the wedge 2| which is driven between the face 1 of the block and the deck strips 22.

In use, the tool is placed on the angle iron support 2!! with its face 1 parallel with the deck strips 22 and is then tilted forwardly sufficiently to permit the angular projection l8 to enter one of the 15 holes I9, it being observed that the bolt I2 is turned so that the projection [8 points toward the vertical face 1. With the projection 18 engaged in the bolt hole the base 6 rests level on the support 20 and by turning the handle [6, the bolt 12 20 is raised to bring the projection into loose contact with the underside of the support thus firmly anchoring the block in place. After adjustment of the bolt I2 the nut I1 is tightened to lock the bolt in its adjusted position. After initial adjustment of the bolt 12 to a given thickness of support the tool may be readily set in position or removed by tilting the same forward to insert or remove the angular projection from the bolt hole. When afiixed to the support the wedge 2| is inserted between the face I and deck strips 22 and upon applying force to the wedge any tendency to lift or displace the block will be counteracted by the projection l8 engaged in the bolt hole coming in contact with the underside of the support.

It is to be understood that'the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that certain changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts may be made without 40 departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

' Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A wedge backing block for laying decking strips comprising a block having a horizontal base and vertical face, said vertical face having a longitudinal bore extending through the base of said block, an attaching bolt slidably mounted in the bore of said face having its lower end projecting below said base and bent to form an angular projection adapted to releasably engage in a bolt hole of the decking support, a handle having a head threadedly engaged with the upper end of said bolt for adjusting said bolt vertically and a nut threaded on the upper end of said bolt above the head of the handle for securing said bolt in its adjusted position.

2. A wedge backing block for laying decking strips comprising an angular casting having a adaptedto engage in a bolt hole of the decking support, a handle having a head in threaded engagement with said bolt for adjusting the same vertically and a lock nut threaded on the upper end of said bolt for securing the same in its 7 adjusted position. 7

3. A wedge backing block for laying decking strips comprising a block having a horizontal base and vertical face, said vertical face having a longitudinal bore extending through the base of said block, an attaching bolt mounted'in the bore of said face having-its lower end projecting below said base and bent to form an'angular projection adapted to releasably engage in a bolt hole of the decking support and means for adjusting saidbolt vertically to' regulate the extent to which the angular projection extends below the base of said block.

' JAMES I. KUSI-IIMA. 

